King second on Punchestown return

The winner from 12 months ago will face seven rivals including War of Attrition who beat this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King last month.

The clash between the top Irish chasers will be the main event of the two-day Northern Ireland Festival of Racing.

Beef Or Salmon pushed Kicking King into second place in last year's race.

Opposition also includes Betfred Gold Cup winner Jack High from Ted Walsh's stable and Arthur Moore's old warrior Native Upmanship, the winner of 16 races, but none over as far as three miles.

Charlie Swan saddles Strong Project while Mariah Rollins will represent Pat Fahy.

Kadoun from Michael O'Brien's yard and the Pat Hughes-trained Montayral complete the line-up.

Beef Or Salmon had a prep run on the flat in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh four weeks ago, finishing ninth to Clara Allen in his first race since he was pulled up in the Gold Cup in March.

"It would be nice to win it again. I don't think any horse has won it twice," said Hourigan.

"He's absolutely fine. He had a nice warm-up run on the Flat which had always been the plan."

The going is described as soft, heavy in places on the hurdles track and soft on the chase but the conditions are not expected to affect the participation of the two main notables.

A bumper Saturday attendance is expected at a meeting which has developed into one of the most popular in the Irish racing calendar.